To Resolve Conflicts, Submit to God We can sum up three of James’ commands under this one heading: (a) Submit to God unconditionally (4:7); (b) Draw near to God (4:8); and, (c) Humble yourself before God (4:10).

Don’t sit passively and wait for resolution in a conflict to happen spontaneously. James gives ten active commands in machine-gun fashion in these four verses: Submit to God! Resist the devil! Draw near to God! Cleanse your hands! Purify your heart! Be miserable! Mourn! Weep! Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into gloom! Humble yourself! God’s way to resolve conflicts is to submit to Him, resist the devil, and repent of all sin.